1. the attitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is and being prepared to deal with it accordingly
2. the accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of nature or of contemporary life in art or literature
Usage: art; literature
3. the doctrine that universals or abstract concepts have an objective or absolute existence
Usage: philosophy

Examples

• Her realism about the job market helped her choose a practical career path.
• The novel’s stark realism depicted life in the inner city without romanticizing it.
• Political realism requires accepting that compromise is often necessary.
• The painting’s photographic realism made it almost indistinguishable from a photograph.
• His realism about his athletic abilities led him to focus on academics instead.
• The film’s gritty realism showed the harsh conditions of factory workers.
• She approached the budget negotiations with cold realism about available funds.